Former Brazil World Cup striker Romario calls for resignation of Brazil FA President

Former Brazil striker Romario has called for the resignation of Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) president Jose Maria Marin over his alleged links to the country's former military dictatorship.

A petition of nearly 55,000 signatures has been handed to the Brazilian footballing body by Romario and Ivo Herzog, the son of a local journalist who died during the dictatorship era in 1975.

"We made a comparison in our petition saying that to think about having Marin as head of the World Cup is likewise imagining Germany selecting someone that belonged to the Nazi party," Herzog said.

"Can you imagine that? I cannot imagine that. But it happened here in Brazil. That's the reality."

Marin has denied any wrongdoing via a statement on the federation's website: "Anyone with good faith will easily conclude that the accusations by these pseudo-journalists are absolutely false. It's a campaign based on lies."

Marin was appointed as CBF president after Ricardo Teixeira resigned in March last year amid charges of wrongdoing.